Answer first: the copy worth buying is the 41 mm stainless steel build with a column-wheel automatic chronograph, a 30-minute counter at 12, small seconds at 6 and a date at 3. That is the configuration that matches the genuine Portugieser Chronograph layout instead of merely resembling it. Every option below is measured against five criteria: case diameter and thickness, dial printing and hand shape, movement type and pusher feel, crystal and caseback, and strap plus balance on the wrist.

What the IW371475 reference actually is

The IW371475 sits inside IWC's Portugieser Chronograph line. That family has kept one architecture for years: a round steel case about 41 mm across and roughly 13 mm thick, a 20 mm lug width, leaf-shaped hour and minute hands, applied Arabic numerals, a 30-minute chronograph counter at 12, small seconds at 6, and a date window at 3. Genuine examples run an in-house automatic chronograph calibre with a column wheel, while earlier generations of the same line used a modified Valjoux 7750 base. Because this reference belongs to a family with many dial and edition variants, check the dial colour, numeral finish and print weight against the official catalogue before you judge any copy's accuracy.

How these copies get judged

  1. Case and thickness: measured diameter, lug width, total height, case-flank profile and bezel shape.
  2. Dial and hands: subdial placement, print weight, numeral finishing, hand shape and hand length.
  3. Movement: column-wheel automatic versus 7750 base versus quartz, and the feel of the pushers.
  4. Crystal and caseback: sapphire up front, anti-reflective coating, engraving and any display back.
  5. Strap and balance: leather quality, buckle detailing, and how the head sits and rotates on the wrist.

Top pick: 41 mm steel with a column-wheel automatic

The strongest option copies the modern in-house layout rather than the older 7750 geometry. It carries the right pusher action, the correct subdial spacing, and a case depth that does not sit proud on the wrist. It is also the version where a sapphire crystal and a display back make sense, since the finished movement is part of the point.

Pros

  • Correct two-register layout with the minute counter at 12 and small seconds at 6.
  • Chronograph start, stop and reset feel crisp instead of spongy.
  • Case thickness tracks the genuine proportions, so it layers under a cuff.
  • Display back shows a decorated rotor and bridges.

Cons

  • Costs more than a 7750-based build, and pricing claims should be verified per listing.
  • Servicing is harder to arrange than for a standard 7750 base.
  • Availability moves in batches rather than staying constant.

Best for: buyers who wear the watch with the caseback visible and care about the chronograph action.

Mid-tier option: 7750-based automatic

This build uses the classic Valjoux 7750 architecture as its base, which is a proven automatic chronograph design. The trade-off shows up in the subdial geometry and the extra case height the movement demands, and some examples stack a date wheel plus a chronograph module where the genuine watch does not.

Pros

  • Widely understood movement, so a local watchmaker can usually work on it.
  • Generally the best value if you want an automatic chronograph feel.
  • Replacement parts are easier to source than for clone column-wheel calibres.

Cons

  • Often a millimetre or two thicker, which changes the silhouette.
  • Subdial positions can drift from the genuine spacing.
  • Pusher travel usually feels heavier.

Best for: daily wear where serviceability matters more than millimetre-perfect dimensions.

Budget option: quartz or slim dress build

A quartz chronograph drops the seconds hand in smooth sweep mode and removes the display back, so the case can be thinner than the genuine watch. Dial printing is where money goes, and on the cheapest examples it shows in flat numerals and uneven subdial rings.

Pros

  • Lowest entry cost and no winding or setting routine.
  • Accurate timekeeping with minimal maintenance.
  • Thin profile works well with a slim wrist or a formal shirt.

Cons

  • Ticking small seconds is an immediate visual giveaway.
  • No display back, so the movement story disappears.
  • Wider sample variation between individual units.

Best for: occasional wear or a first purchase before committing to an automatic.

What no replica delivers

No copy is an IWC product, none carries a genuine warranty, and none should be sold or represented as authentic. Finishing inside the case, hairspring quality, and long-term rate stability will differ from a genuine calibre. Buyers who need resale value or manufacturer service should buy the real watch or a legitimate alternative.

Arrival checklist

  1. Measure the case with calipers and compare against the stated spec.
  2. Run the chronograph for ten minutes, reset, and confirm the minute counter returns to zero.
  3. Check subdial alignment at the 12 and 6 positions.
  4. Look at the date window under a loupe for print quality and centring.
  5. Wind or set the watch, then let it run 24 hours and note the deviation.